Robbie Keane has expressed interest in becoming the new Wolves manager amid Gary O’Neil’s decision to pull out of talks over a return, according to Molineux News.
The former Tottenham and Ireland striker is believed to have applied for the role at the West Midlands club after Vitor Pereira’s sacking on Sunday.
Keane is currently managing Hungarian side Ferencvaros, whom he led to the league title last season, and has prior success with Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning the Israeli Premier League.
Wolves were advancing in talks to appoint O’Neil on Monday, before the 42-year-old opted to withdraw from the running after a period of reflection.
According to GIVEMESPORT sources, O’Neil demanded a minimum two-year contract for a return to Molineux, where he was relieved of duties in December last year.
Robbie Keane Wants Molineux Role
ROBBIE KEANE FERENCVAROS
Wolves parted ways with Pereira following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham, with the club failing to win any of their first 10 Premier League games this season.
The Molineux side sit rock bottom of the league table with just two points from a possible 30, eight points adrift of safety, and have conceded 22 goals – more than any other side.
Pereira took charge of Wolves in December last year, replacing O’Neil, and guided the West Midlands club to 16th in his first season.
Wolves rewarded the Portuguese tactician with a new three-year contract in September, following a difficult summer transfer window during which key players Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha departed.
The Molineux side have secured just two wins in 13 games in all competitions under Pereira this term, both coming in the Carabao Cup, where they were knocked out in the last 16 by Chelsea last Wednesday.
Keane began his managerial career while still playing professionally, being appointed player-manager of Hungarian side ATK in March 2018.
Prior to taking over at Ferencvaros in June this year, he spent time as assistant manager of Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds, and was in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Keane won the Israeli Premier League title and the Toto Cup in his one and only season at the club and reached the last 16 of the Conference League.